FREE parking will be available in Wrexham throughout October.

Wrexham Council will be reinstating car parking charges in their town centre operated car parks from October 1, but they will be free to use after 11am, except for Tŷ Pawb, where normal parking charges will apply all day.

Charges will also be reinstated in their country parks, technology park and Ruabon Station but they will not be free after 11am.

Normal charges will apply in town car parks from 8am until 11am.

Cllr Mark Pritchard, leader of Wrexham Council, said: "Free parking has been in place since the end of March in order to support workers providing critical services for the public.

"We suspended car parking charges at the beginning of lock down and continued with the offer as lockdown has gradually been relaxed we continued to offer free parking in order to support town centre traders, particularly independent traders who had been severely affected by the lockdown.

"Unfortunately, the opening up of the town centre has led to free parking being misused by many town centre workers and residents and we have now taken the decision to reinstate charging but to allow free parking in the majority of town centre car parks after 11am.

"This we hope this will encourage visitors to the town centre to support town centre traders.

"I would like to thank staff and fellow coalition members for their support with free parking and the introduction of the free after 11am offer."

Time limits in the short stay car parks will apply and should be observed, with fines being issued to vehicles staying longer than permitted in short stay car parks.

There is also a new 'Off Street' parking places order being introduced at the bus station which will help with the management of the bus station and adjacent disabled bays.

Charges will apply at these disabled bays and they will be enforced like disabled spaces in other council car parks, and will also be included in the 'free after 11am' incentive.